-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- First , let 's be clear : No one can blame voters if they a -RRB- are turned off by this election , b -RRB- are worried more about other things in their lives and c -RRB- do n't think that it matters much who controls the Senate , which is what is up for grabs this year .

I mean , who could be inspired by Kentucky Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes as she refuses to say whether she voted for President Obama , citing her constitutional right to privacy . -LRB- As a public candidate for public office , no less . -RRB- And then there 's her opponent , Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell , who is so eager to win re-election -LRB- and possibly lead a Senate majority -RRB- that while calling for the repeal of Obamacare , he also says that the Kentucky health care exchange -- which is working well -- could continue . `` I think it 's fine to have a website , '' he allowed . Huh ?

So OK , I get that , to a degree , this is a Seinfeld election , a show about nothing .

Except for this : When the show is over , and if control of the Senate changes to the Republicans , it could matter . Not in the suddenly-we-are-all-going-to-work-together kind of way . But rather , in the it 's - in-my-self-interest-to-get-something-done kind of way .

Without being too Pollyannish , let me posit this : If there is unified Republican control of the legislative branch , Republicans would be smart to do some much-needed repair work on the brand . This is not an argument for voting for Republicans ; it 's a possible route out of the gridlock .

Right now , too many voters see the GOP as just the party of stopping stuff , not inventing stuff . In a midterm election , that can work : Obama is unpopular , tie all candidates to Obama . Bingo , Senate majority .

But if Republicans take charge of the Congress , they will have run out of excuses . And they will have the opportunity to say , hey , it was n't us bollixing up the works . It was Harry Reid .

Ah , you say , but what about President Obama ? He 's got a legacy to think about , and he 'll be thinking about it , you can be sure . He 's got as much self-interest here as does the GOP brand : He came into the White House with a vision of a transformational presidency . He 's now all about issuing executive actions . That 's not what he really wants , either .

The issue that comes to mind , of course , is immigration reform -- which has been hanging out there so long it just gets messier and messier . The governing conundrum is outlined perfectly in The New York Times Upshot analysis : In order to keep their House majority , congressional Republicans do n't need Hispanic votes . Not one . And Hispanics are conspicuously underrepresented as voters in most of the pivotal Senate races of 2014 , excepting Colorado . But if the GOP actually wants to win a presidential election , author Nate Cohn writes , `` the Republicans will need a substantial number of Hispanic votes . ''

All of which means that , at a certain point , GOP leaders need to decide one thing : Do they want to remain a congressional party ? Or would they actually like to become a presidential party once again ? If they do something -- and get the issue off the front burner -- they might actually have a shot at it . Their biggest burden : convince the recalcitrant , self-interested , hell-no rank-and-filers to actually get something done . For the party . And , by the way , for the country .

There 's one logic that rules midterm elections -- in which GOP candidates have political reasons to rail against immigration reform . Then there 's another logic that takes hold when you try to set the table for a presidential candidate , and campaign -- no matter what some party diehards argue . Presidential elections are about big things . Parties -- and candidates -- that shrink from solutions seem small , unworthy .

Sure , it depends on the GOP candidate . -LRB- As in : Chris Christie or Ted Cruz ? -RRB- And it also depends on President Obama . What can he accept as a compromise ? Would he be willing to accept a measure that provides some sort of secure legal status rather than a complete path to citizenship ? And how would Democrats react to that ?

Lots of unknowns , of course . And one of the biggest is whether Republicans -- after more than four years out of the White House -- have learned how tough it is to run the country from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue .

If they have n't figured that out , then the cynicism will be warranted . This election wo n't matter .

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Gloria Borger says some argue this year 's election is about nothing

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She says Republicans have a chance to make a difference after the midterms

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Borger : If they do well and gain influence , will they want to give party a positive message ?

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Borger : Immigration reform could test whether GOP wants to control White House again